Therapy for Young People
For the person who feels everything deeply, thinks differently, and is trying to find their place in a world that wasn't quite built for them.
This page is for you (and also for the parents, caregivers, and people who love them.)
If you're a young person reading this: I see you. You don't have to have it all figured out to reach out. You don't have to be in crisis. You just have to be you; the full, complicated, brilliant version of you. And that's enough.
If you're a parent reading this: thank you for looking. The fact that you're here, trying to find the right support for your young person, says everything.
Who I work with
I work with young people from around 15 years old through to young adults in their 20s who are navigating:
A new or recent ADHD or autism diagnosis and everything that comes with it (relief, confusion, grief, 'wait, does this mean...?')
The exhaustion of masking at school, at work, or with friends and not knowing how to be themselves without it
Anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout that looks different when you're neurodivergent
Identity; figuring out who you are, especially when you've spent years performing a version of yourself for other people
Sensory struggles and nervous system dysregulation; meltdowns, shutdowns, emotional intensity
Feeling like they don't fit in anywhere; not with the neurotypical crowd, not even necessarily with other neurodivergent people
Transition periods; finishing school, starting university or work, leaving home, or any other big life shift
How I work with young people
I don't do lecture-style therapy. I don't give homework that feels like more school. And I don't expect you to sit still, make eye contact, or talk about feelings if that's not how your brain works.
My approach is warm, flexible, and genuinely led by you. We might:
Talk. Or not talk: and use movement, writing, or walking instead
Use ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) to help you build a sense of self that doesn't depend on performing
Explore what your nervous system actually needs: and build real strategies, not generic ones
Work on the shame and self-criticism that builds up when you've spent years feeling like you're failing at normal
Do walk-and-talk sessions outside if that helps your brain regulate better: many young people prefer this
Include parents or caregivers in the work where it's wanted and helpful: always with your input and consent
For parents & caregivers
I know it can be hard to watch a young person struggle, especially when the systems around them (schools, healthcare, social services) aren't always built for the way their brain works.
My approach with young people is always neurodiversity-affirming. That means I'm not here to make your young person more compliant or 'easier to manage.' I'm here to help them understand themselves, build genuine self-worth, and develop the internal resources to navigate the world as they are.
I work collaboratively with families where that's helpful, but I also hold the young person's trust, privacy, and autonomy as central. We'll always be clear about what's shared and what's not.
A note about diagnosis
You don't need a formal diagnosis to access support here. Many young people I work with are undiagnosed but clearly neurodivergent; and they deserve support regardless of whether they have a piece of paper that names it.
If a diagnosis is something you're seeking, I'm happy to talk about what that process looks like in Tasmania and help you navigate it.
